During his first season with the Flames, Smith started 55 games for the second straight seasons and went 25-22-6 with a 2.65 GAA, .916 SV% and three shutouts. Smith will be playing behind one of the best bluelines in the NHL and a solid group of forwards, making him a candidate for 30-plus wins for the first time since 2012. Smith is a great option on opening night vs. a rebuilding Canucks team.
Pickard found himself fourth on the goaltending depth chart in Toronto and needed to go through waivers to head back to the Marlies (AHL). With Michal Neuvirth battling injury to start the season, Pickard will likely start the year as Brian Elliott’s backup.
Kulak was a fourth-round pick (No.105 overall) in 2012 and has appeared in 101 career NHL games with the Flames. The 24-year-old is coming off of a season in which he scored just two goals and six assists (eight points) across 71 games.
Murray’s move to IR is retroactive to September 18th. Murray will miss the start of the regular season, leaving a spot open for defensemen Dean Kukan and Scott Harrington to slot in. Murray has had a tough time staying healthy throughout his career and is coming off of a year in which he played just 44 games—picking up 12 points (1G / 11A).
Carrick lost out to Igor Ozhiganov, Justin Holl and Martin Marincin in training camp, so the Maple Leafs get a draft instead of losing him for nothin on waivers. The 24-year-old had 12 points (4G / 8A) in 47 games with the Maple Leafs last season and should push for a spot on the Stars’ third pairing. The seventh round pick will turn into a sixth round pick if he plays in 50 games with the Stars this season.
Ducks GM Bob Murray announced on Wednesday that Perry underwent surgery to repair his right knee and the initial timetable is set for 20 weeks of about five months. This is a tough blow to a Ducks team that looked as deep as they have in years, but opens the door for young forwards like Troy Terry and Sam Steel to play big roles right out of the gate.
Ryan was a late-bloomer, spending three years in the WHL, four years at the University of Alberta, three years in Austria, one in Sweden and one in the AHL before making it to the NHL. Ryan had 15 goals and 23 assists (38 points) in 80 games with the Hurricanes. Ryan was top-10 in the NHL in face-off percentage last year and can also chip-in on the power-play. The 30-year-old has ties to Flames head coach Bill Peters, who was just let go in Carolina.
Bouchard has good size (6-foot-2, 192 lbs.) and fantastic mobility. The London Knights captain led all OHL defenseman in points (87) and assists (62) while finishing second in goals (25). There are some questions about his defensive game, but overall he is a well-rounded defenseman with high-end offensive skills.
Pickard, 26, was acquired in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights in early-October and spent the majority of the season in the AHL. Pickard, who is currently No.4 on the Maple Leafs’ goaltending depth chart, was 21-9-1 with a 2.31 GAA, .918 SV% and one shutout in 33 games with the Marlies. He gave up four goals on 27 shots in his only NHL appearance with the Maple Leafs.
2018 was the most productive season of Carrick’s young career. The 24-year-old right-handed blueliner set career-highs in goals (4), assists (8) and points (12) while appearing in just 47 games for the Maple Leafs. Carrick’s signing suggests that the Maple Leafs won’t bring back Roman Polak and that Carrick will start the season as their third-pairing D-man on the right side.
